Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 3 /Trend S.Isayev, T. Jafarov/
The number of childen per one family in Iran has dropped to alarming levels since the late 80s, the Head of Asia and Oceanian Research Center Mohammad Javad Mahmoudi said, Fars reported.
He noted that in 1988 there were approximately 6.1 children per family in Iran.
He added, that in 1992 this figure has dropped to 4 children per family, and dropped even more to 2 children in 2000.
Currently, this number is 1.6 children per family, and according to Mahmoudi it needs to be increased at least to two children per family.
Mahmoudi underscored that currently medium age in Iran is 27 years old, yet the population is getting older. He noted that if it continues this way, by 2051 the medium age in Iran will jump from 27 to 47 - which would be the highest number among developed countries.
Mahmoudi said that in 2006, Iran's population had about 5 million of elder people, and this figure is estimated to grow up to 10 million by 2026.
Mahmoudi also said that one of the major challenges to Iran's economy is to reduce the maximum working age for people in the country.
Iran has had a population control policy which encouraged maximum two children per family for two decades.
Iranian couples have been encouraged to have as many children as they can with promises of financial help from the government.